an authority having power to adjudicate in civil, criminal, military, or ecclesiastical matters

the regular sitting of such a judicial authority

the room or building in which such a tribunal sits

9.

a marked outdoor or enclosed area used for any of various ball games, such as tennis, squash, etc

a marked section of such an area: the service court

10.

the board of directors or council of a corporation, company, etc

(mainly Brit) the supreme council of some universities

11.

a branch of any of several friendly societies

12.

go to court, to take legal action

13.

hold court, to preside over admirers, attendants, etc

14.

out of court

without a trial or legal case: the case was settled out of court

too unimportant for consideration

(Brit) so as to ridicule completely (in the phrase laugh out of court)

15.

the ball is in your court, you are obliged to make the next move

verb

16.

to attempt to gain the love of (someone); woo

17.

(transitive) to pay attention to (someone) in order to gain favour

18.

(transitive) to try to obtain (fame, honour, etc)

19.

(transitive) to invite, usually foolishly, as by taking risks: to court disaster

20.

(old-fashioned) to be conducting a serious emotional relationship usually leading to marriage

Word Origin

C12: from Old French, from Latin cohorscohort

Court

/kɔːt/

noun

1.

Margaret (née Smith). born 1942, Australian tennis player, winner of a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles: Australian Open champion 1960–66, 1969–71, and 1973; US Open champion 1962, 1965, 1969–70, and 1973; Wimbledon champion 1963, 1965, and 1970; French Open champion 1962, 1965, 1969–70, and 1973

court

n.

late 12c., from Old French cort (11c., Modern French cour) "king's court, princely residence," from Latin cortem, accusative of cors (earlier cohors) "enclosed yard," and by extension (and perhaps by association with curia "sovereign's assembly"), "those assembled in the yard; company, cohort," from com- "together" (see com-) + stem hort- related to hortus "garden, plot of ground" (see yard (n.1)). Sporting sense is from 1510s, originally of tennis. Legal meaning is from late 13c. (early assemblies for justice were overseen by the sovereign personally).

v.

"woo, offer homage," as one does at court, 1570s; see court (n.). Related: Courted; courting.